In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Dr. Danielle Griffin about her journey through overwhelm, pandemic stress, and personal transformation. Danielle shares candidly about balancing multiple careers, family loss, and collective uncertainty, as well as how she rediscovered alignment through somatic practices and shifting her professional focus toward helping others heal from stress and trauma.

About the Guest:

Dr. Danielle Griffin is a leading speaker and coach dedicated to empowering busy professionals to overcome the complex interplay of physical discomfort and emotional overwhelm. As the award-winning author of Somatic Exercise Made Simple, she specializes in helping high-achievers reclaim their focus, boost productivity, and enhance their presence through accessible mind-body practices. With a doctorate and certifications in hypnotherapy and somatic approaches, Dr. Danielle provides tangible, actionable tools to reduce pain and stress, manage anxiety, and foster profound resilience. Her impactful presentations equip audiences with practical strategies to create positive change and unlock their full potential, even amidst demanding schedules.

Main Topics Covered:

• Danielle’s life pre-pandemic: balancing family, career, and entrepreneurship
• Navigating stress, uncertainty, and grief through COVID-19 and major life changes
• Outward resilience versus internal overwhelm
• The concept of collective stress and its impact on communities
• Healing with somatic practices: breathwork, movement, and mind-body awareness
• The role of hypnotherapy in shifting mindset and finding clarity
• Letting go of hustle culture and creating space for intentional self-care
• How Danielle helps clients implement practical, restorative routines

"We’re reminded that our mental health isn’t just within our mind, but it’s carried within parts of our body... It allows you opportunities to relieve the stress and embodiment of that tension from within you." — Dr. Danielle Griffin

Timestamps: [00:00:06] Welcome & warmup: Danielle’s background and where she calls home

[00:02:21] Life pre-pandemic: family, work, travel business, and daily routines

[00:05:21] Lockdown changes: loss of social connection, work/career pressures, and home responsibilities

[00:08:54] Outward resilience vs. internal overwhelm; family changes and stress compounds

[00:14:36] Realizing overwhelm after major loss, postpartum, and stacked life events

[00:20:28] Turning to yoga and somatic practices for relief

[00:23:49] Defining collective stress, why it matters, and pandemic as a global shared trauma

[00:37:24] What is somatic healing? Mind-body tools to release tension and heal

[00:43:53] Creating her program: supporting clients with stress, pain, and trauma recovery

[00:45:11] Fun questions: guilty pleasures, thoughts on aging, and favorite travel escapes

[00:48:39] Upcoming trips, Mexico favorites, and closing gratitude

Special Offer from the Guest:

Receive a free copy eBook, somatic exercise Made simple book 3 as well as any other books I release if they join my book review team https://mailchi.mp/33e037c9508c/free-e-book-reviewers-sign-up

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited quantity. If you have an issue redeeming the guest offer please reach out to the guest or vendor directly.

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

Never Miss a Moment of Imperfect Adulting

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

How to create/launch your own podcast.

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I use Kit f/k/a Convertkit

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org